County must clarify statement on reform

The Kane County Board's April 28 workshop, designed to develop a consensus statement addressing reform in Springfield, raised a number of concerns for the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County.

Chairman Lauzen repeatedly said that the statement had nothing to do with the governor's Turnaround Agenda, and yet part of this statement, "Taxes are rising, businesses and residents are leaving, and schools and roads are deteriorating," was taken practically word-for-word from the agenda.

Our taxes are not increasing. The 5 percent flat income tax in Illinois was rolled back in January to 3.75 percent and the county board boasts of its role in "freezing our property tax levy for four years in a row."

Another part of the statement asks for consensus that "Income Tax ... should be kept low and competitive." This wording disregards the voice of Kane County voters in the November 2014 election. Fifty-seven percent of the voters endorsed the idea of a 3 percent "millionaire's tax" to fund education. These results further suggests residents support a progressive tax whereby people with higher incomes pay more. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy reports the lowest 20 percent wage earners are paying 13.8 percent of their income in combined state and local taxes, while the highest 1 percent wage earners are paying only 4.9 percent of their income in combined state and local taxes This is not an equitable system.

Other parts of the statement appear to be equally problematic. For instance, in your presentation you called for broader powers for the county board. What does that mean?

The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County calls on the board and Chairman Lauzen to draft a more accurate and clear statement, and to provide time for the public to read and react to it.

Jean Pierce

LWV first vice president

Geneva